Shopkeeper shoots dead would-be robbers

An elderly shopkeeper has described how he whipped out a shotgun and killed two of four men allegedly trying to rob his New York store.

Charles "Gus" Augusto Jr, 72, shot the men on Thursday during a bloody showdown later labelled "Pump-Action Ending" on the front page of the New York Daily News.

Mr Augusto — the manager of a restaurant equipment outlet store called Kaplan Brothers Blue Flame — returned to the badly-damaged store a day later to recount his horror at what had unfolded.

"I didn't want to shoot them," he told the Associated Press.

"I hoped after the first shot they would go away."

Mr Augusto said the would-be thieves walked into his store about 3pm, pulled out handguns and began demanding his staff for money.

One of the men pistol-whipped an employee while another worker had a gun pointed at his face, Mr Augusto said.

The men allegedly refused to leave when the manager told them he had no money.

Mr Augusto said he reached for the nearby 12-gauge shotgun when he thought one of the men was about to shoot an employee.

He fired off one shot, mistakenly thinking the men would flee the store, before pulling the trigger on all four intruders.

Two of the men died quickly after collapsing on the street.

Police following a trail of blood arrested the other men a short time later, before transporting them to hospital with gunshot wounds.

Mr Augusto was interviewed extensively by police but has not been charged.

"I'd rather not have done it — I'm sad for those mothers who have no sons," he said.

Neighbours were divided over whether the shopkeeper had acted appropriately.

"[He] was defending his work, his business, so you could perceive that as being heroic," one said.

"But on the other hand, these kids died."